Post Game: Dolphins

[Flames24Rulz]

Yep, the most glaring thing today was how little of a rush we got. It was ridiculous to see how much time Henne had today. The blitzes failed miserably too. And yet we still had a chance to win the game.

Very upset with Nelson and Jones. These guys have to make catches when the ball is coming their way. Drops in this offense (or any offense, for that matter) are absolutely unacceptable.

[Rockmaninoff]

Does this look like within a yard to anyone else?



Now, most of the time I don't say anything about the officiating, because most of the time it doesn't matter. Teams can overcome these things, but also, most of the time the officials don't get a TV timeout to discuss the penalty, watch the visual evidence, and then rule incorrectly.

It makes me question whether this league is on the level.

[Atnomage]

I had the same question about that play because he is off the line and there is a running back in the backfield. I thought the rule is you can't line up on the center if the rb aren't a threat. Wasn't a penalty was taken away from the Lions because of that.

[Ayt]

The last four weeks we've run the ball (with our RBs) only 61 times. We've passed the ball 141 times.

We are throwing the ball 70% of the time. That is insane.

I don't have a problem with that, if they can do it. Prior to the season, I thought they could, and I thought that they should. I thought that Rodgers was ready for that kind of volume, and that the O-line would be stable enough to allow it. I don't know what to think now.

But 70% is just out of control in the NFL. Even the Colts last year passed 62% of the time.

[paulpressey25]

Thompson looked good today. Mike McCarthy didn't.

When you look at these games on the level of an individual battle, it will never come back to TT. The proximate cause of the losses will always fall on a key injury, blown execution, bad call or MM screw up. And we had a number of those things today and last week.

But one of the reasons these RealGM boards are good is that we generally can take a step back and look at the overall status of things after the individual games at hand.

Three weeks ago we had the spiritual leader of the offense (Rodgers) and the spiritual leader of the defense (Charles Woodson) both suggest it would be a good idea to go out and get Marshawn Lynch. Their boss didn't back them up.

For my money I think we win at least one of the last two games if not both had we traded for Lynch. It would have been the emotional backing these players needed and if anything would have forced MM's hand to run the ball more.

At the end of the day we can all agree that TT does some very good things. But we still have these common threads running through his tenure of these blind spots he has.

[smooth 'lil balla]

PP--

BJax actually looks good. Grant is back next year. I'm fine not giving up significant value for a guy that I don't think is the missing piece.

[LUKE23]

I would have traded for Lynch as well. But that doesn't negate the fact that we're running on fumes for defensive personnel and still getting the job done. What has been a common theme under MM regardless of personnel? Sloppiness in terms of execution and penalties. We have the most injuries in the league and all three of our losses are by a FG. We just cannot execute and we continually beat ourselves. You can argue it's personnel but it's been happening regardless of who is in there and has been happening for years. Were we ever this sloppy of a team penalty-wise or just with general playcalling/execution under Sherman? If so, I don't remember it. He was just an awful GM from the drafting side of things.

[paulpressey25]

I would have traded for Lynch as well. But that doesn't negate the fact that we're running on fumes for defensive personnel and still getting the job done.

The defense has played well the last two weeks all things considered. But you just said it right there---you would have traded for Lynch. And that might have been enough to emotionally charge that locker-room and on the field to help win one or two of these last games.

I could care less if he's not the long-term answer at RB. Andre Rison wasn't the long-term answer at WR for the 1996 team either. But he gave the team a legit NFL starter and brought some swagger into a locker-room that needed it at the time. Lynch could have done the same.

[Flames24Rulz]

I would have traded for Lynch as well. But that doesn't negate the fact that we're running on fumes for defensive personnel and still getting the job done. What has been a common theme under MM regardless of personnel? Sloppiness in terms of execution and penalties. We have the most injuries in the league and all three of our losses are by a FG. We just cannot execute and we continually beat ourselves. You can argue it's personnel but it's been happening regardless of who is in there and has been happening for years. Were we ever this sloppy of a team penalty-wise or just with general playcalling/execution under Sherman? If so, I don't remember it. He was just an awful GM from the drafting side of things.

Oh yeah, we were always undisciplined under Sherman too.

[smooth 'lil balla]

In McCarthy's defense, what was so sloppy about execution today? You can't blame the penalty on the punt on him. Slocum maybe. I'd like to see slocum gone tomorrow.

With that said, McCarthy's blame goes to his offesnive style. Rodgers just doesn't have the time to pass that he needs, and MM isn't making the necessary adjustments.

[DH34Phan]

I could care less if he's not the long-term answer at RB. Andre Rison wasn't the long-term answer at WR for the 1996 team either. But he gave the team a legit NFL starter and brought some swagger into a locker-room that needed it at the time. Lynch could have done the same.

Great example.

Not trading for Lynch is going to be a "what could have been" moment for this season, and possibly the future depending on how Grant comes back.

[xTitan]

I would have traded for Lynch as well. But that doesn't negate the fact that we're running on fumes for defensive personnel and still getting the job done.

The defense has played well the last two weeks all things considered. But you just said it right there---you would have traded for Lynch. And that might have been enough to emotionally charge that locker-room and on the field to help win one or two of these last games.

I could care less if he's not the long-term answer at RB. Andre Rison wasn't the long-term answer at WR for the 1996 team either. But he gave the team a legit NFL starter and brought some swagger into a locker-room that needed it at the time. Lynch could have done the same.

Here is an interesting question...how would McCarthy have used Lynch?? Woud McCarthy wait a few weeks until he learned this complicated offense? Would McCarthy give him more than 12 carries per game? Brandon Jackson has been serviceable and should have carried more today, but part of the big problem was the defenses inability to get off the field, I am guessing they absolutely dominated time of possession and thank God Henne was the QB today, an average QB would have put up huge point totals.

[smooth 'lil balla]

i can't argue with the notion that bring Lynch may have emotionally charged us, but again, I think Jax looks good. MM finishes strong however, so the season is still young (knock on wood).

[paulpressey25]

Here is an interesting question...how would McCarthy have used Lynch??.

Certainly MM could have screwed this up. On the other hand, this might have been a good way for the GM to tell the coach he needs to change things up a bit and use the new asset acquired. You know Rodgers would have been down with the move, as he said so publicly. And as you noted, it would have brought back a legit play action option.

[smooth 'lil balla]

I'm agreeing with xtitan today. We were lucky to be in this game with the way the defense played. That fact made me think we'd pull it out though, as it seems we win the ones we shouldn"t (detroit) lose the ones we should win (chi, redskins).

Let's kick some viking a$$ next week.

[paulpressey25]

MM finishes strong however, so the season is still young (knock on wood).

I agree. These seasons are a roller-coaster. We are a couple Clay Matthews sacks of Favre at getting momentum back.

Jason Wilde though had a troubling stat he mentioned on Homer tonight. Something along the lines of the Packers being 1-11 in their last 12 games decided by 4 or less points. They were debating who you assign the blame for there.

[xTitan]

Here is an interesting question...how would McCarthy have used Lynch??.

Certainly MM could have screwed this up. On the other hand, this might have been a good way for the GM to tell the coach he needs to change things up a bit and use the new asset acquired. You know Rodgers would have been down with the move, as he said so publicly. And as you noted, it would have brought back a legit play action option.

i would have made the move as well.....to be honest if the Packers offerered a 4th and either Lang or Spitz, they made the better offer....but that is neither here nor there now, I am just losing a lot of faith in McCarthy and I question if he actually would have used him to this teams best ability, another factor is the continued poor play of the o-line, that might be the biggest disappointment for me this year, thought they would be a solid unit and they have not been.

[smooth 'lil balla]

MM finishes strong however, so the season is still young (knock on wood).

I agree. These seasons are a roller-coaster. We are a couple Clay Matthews sacks of Favre at getting momentum back.

Jason Wilde though had a troubling stat he mentioned on Homer tonight. Something along the lines of the Packers being 1-11 in their last 12 games decided by 4 or less points. They were debating who you assign the blame for there.

Well i can't blame Rodgers, if that's what you're asking. We've had missed fields goals, defensive let downs, hail marries, dropped passes, and missed blatant roughing the passer calls.

I blame our freaking punter situation.

[Simulack]

Not sure what Lynch has done to think he would help us so drastically. Today he has 17 carries for 44 yards; Jackson had 12 for 53. Jackson was fairly successful today yet even this didn't force MM's hand to run more, I'm not sure that changes with Lynch.

The number one problem obviously continues to be the O-line - Bulaga got embarrassed today.

Secondly, I think our group of WR's is pretty overrated. Might want to be more aggressive in the future obtaining another threat there. I feared our WR corps wasn't as good as advertised and wanted Dez Bryant in the draft (although, admittedly, I am sure I like many fans am guilty of lapsing into wanting a 1st round pick to go on a high-profile, skill guy.) Nelson just isn't very good and unfortunately picking him over DeSean Jackson (who everyone else had as #1 on the board) has been one of TT's biggest blunders in what has otherwise usually been a very good drafting record.

Rodgers so far this season has statistically played like a fringe top 10 QB this season in a year most of us expected him to establish himself as a top 2 or 3 guy and perennial MVP player. Tough to say how much the line, overrated WR's/Finley injury and questionable playcalling are responsible. Although he has to take some blame, I more worry we are going to waste his prime years with concussions, dropped balls and suspect playcalling.

[xTitan]

MM finishes strong however, so the season is still young (knock on wood).

I agree. These seasons are a roller-coaster. We are a couple Clay Matthews sacks of Favre at getting momentum back.

Jason Wilde though had a troubling stat he mentioned on Homer tonight. Something along the lines of the Packers being 1-11 in their last 12 games decided by 4 or less points. They were debating who you assign the blame for there.

To me the break down always appear to be a mental mistake that stops a drive, a bad penalty, a blown assignment...the other thing that seems to hurt this team is poor clock management and the lack of importance on keeping your timeouts....whether it be poor challenges or late in getting to the line. Throw in a kicker with a tiny nut sack and you have a recipe for failure...